In the midst of ongoing legal issues in his native Ghana, where he is accused of corruption, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities.
Records from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) show that Ofori-Atta, 66, who was Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024, is being detained at an immigration facility in Virginia.
Ofori-Atta was detained on Tuesday due to concerns about the “status of his current stay in the United States,” according to a statement issued by his legal team on Wednesday. The statement also stated that Ofori-Atta had applied to extend his visa after undergoing medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
The attorneys stated, “His US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously,” adding that Ofori-Atta was cooperating fully with the authorities.
Ghanaian authorities officially accused the former minister with corruption in November 2025 after declaring him a fugitive in February of that same year. Ghana has not seen him since January 2025.
The accusations are related to his time under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, when he oversaw crucial discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and spearheaded contentious tax measures.
When Ofori-Atta might be freed or whether he intends to go back to Ghana to stand trial were not disclosed by the legal team.
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